While in great voice and exuding the confidence of a pro, Buckley brings little to the role while stand-out performances by Lewis J. Stadlen as the comic foil Vandergelder, Nic Rouleau and Jess LeProtto as his endearing young clerks, Cornelius and Barnaby, and Analisa Leaming and Kristen Hahn as their adorable love-interests, Irene Molloy and Minnie Fay, are inventive, energetic and always entertaining.""

Yikes! I was so curious about this casting - she to me is much more grounded, dramatic actress. Not that she isn't funny or doesn't have comedy in her bones - it's just that Dolly is supposed to be a bit over the top and definitely some endearing sass - qualities I don't necessarily associate with Buckley - Though I will try and see it anyway. I did see her in Grey Gardens a few years back and sadly was not impressed with her in that production. (could've been an off night) I do wish Hello Dolly the best - it is one of our American Theater Gems.

While I have not seen the tour, I can't speculate about B.B., but I can say that I have seen so many productions of Dolly over the years, and they don't succeed when Dolly isn't over the top. As stated above, the show is a star vehicle, and that star has to grab you.

I've seen productions where Dolly has been very good looking, in great voice and totally has the part memorized — resulting in a flat, dull show that plods along. It doesn't matter if Horace is hilarious and the supporting cast is wonderful, a mere adequate Dolly just stops the show dead. I still enjoy those shows because I love the music, but my husband will usually ask to be euthanized at intermission.

The worst Dolly I've seen was Mimi Hines who surprisingly brought no comedic chops to the part, sang like she had just smoked 20 packs of Virginia Slims, and could barely walk, let alone do the few dance steps required. You know that scene at the end of Bowfinger where Eddie Murphy's character is shy and not really an actor and has to do a Kung Fu fighting scene? He's clearly out of his element and has to rely on the supporting cast to make it look like he 's fighting them. It's hilarious, and that's how Hello, Dolly! can feel when Dolly isn't up to the task.

As Iíve posted ad nauseum here, I saw Miss Buckley in Utica. She was wonderful. Iíve seen the show numerous times but this was the first time I saw the show sitting next to a widow. My friend lost her husband several years ago and when the first act curtain fell, my friend was in tears. Kinda proving the point that Dolly is so much more than a musical comedy. Miss Buckley was very moving in that last speech before Parade. And the woman critic in Cleveland landed it by saying (paraphrase) that it was poignant watching a 71-year old who moved and acted like a 71-year old still reaching out to life.

I agree; no bones are picked. It's a role that does stretch, and accommodate many styles of Dolly. I was curious about Peters, and she stunned me with both her comedy and her effortless light touch in embracing of the role's humanity. Buckley is likely still finding the character's highs to go with the parts that are a perfect fit -- like the pre-"Parade" section, which she likely builds her interpretation around, i.e. a widow finally moving on. It's very valid but it may mean she is still constructing a full performance. Hell, Roz Russell admits she didn't fully get Mame until after they opened. My guess is, Buckley hews closer to the Shirley Booth take on the Matchmaker, life-scaled and earnest but with a dry wit. My bet is: Zaks knows she needs to find the arc of the evening, playing it on her feet, and she will. This will be be her longest run in a role since "Sunset." .

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Miramar3 said: And second, Betty BuckleyISDolly Levi! Watch Betty and you see Dolly. Watch Bette or Bernadette or any of the other ladies who inhabited the role, and you see the actor.BRAVA,Betty!"

What a pretentious mean spirited comment . I’m sure Betty is fabulous. But there is no reason to dig at the other ladies . I look forward to reading reviews from all the stops The real main stream critics reviews. I enjoy them.

We are debating putting our subscription seats at the Hollywood Pantages up for sale. Nothing against Betty Buckley, but we made a trip to NYC when Bette returned and that evening was fantastic. Yes, it was the "Bette Show" however, I'm not sure if I want to see the scaled back touring company (sets/props, etc, not actors) less than a year later.

RemlapLBC said: "We are debating putting our subscription seats at the Hollywood Pantages up for sale. Nothing against Betty Buckley, but we made a trip to NYC when Bette returned and that evening was fantastic. Yes, it was the "Bette Show" however, I'm not sure if I want to see the scaled back touring company (sets/props, etc, not actors) less than a year later."

I saw the show twice on Broadway: Bernadette Peters on May 30th and Bette Midler on August 18th. Seven weeks after I watched Bette, I saw Betty Buckley on October 5th and 6th. There is nothing scaled back in the touring show that made anydifferencewhencomparedtotheshowsIsawonBroadway. I saw “Hello, Dolly!” 4 times in 18 weeks. Am I’m one of the ONLY people on this entire forum that’s seen the touring production TWICE.

So, if there was THAT much of a difference - sets, props, or whatever - I would have seen it. Yes, there are some very minor differences. But they did not matter. This show, simply put, is an absolute joy to behold. I loved it so much I’m planning to see it twice in Columbus, OH when it comes next May, and already have my ticket reserved for Aug 2019 when it comes to Pittsburgh.